Iceni Homes: 2016 Review

As we’re nearing the end of 2016, Iceni Homes is reflecting on another busy and successful year. With numbers of new homes started and completed above target, cost efficiency increased, offices consolidated to a new single office location, delivery of the 2015 – 18 HCA programme, and a new bid to the 2016 – 21 programme submitted, it has certainly been a busy year!

As the external environment continues to change, Iceni has remained focused on the core work of delivering projects for its partner associations. Amongst the 250+ new homes started during the year we are particularly delighted to have successfully launched Hundred Houses' flagship regeneration project at Eastfields, Cambridge, after a couple of years of project planning.

The £6millon project replaces 26 outdated homes with a mixed scheme of 50 new homes, reflecting the community’s needs both now and for the future. The new homes will be in a modern vibrant setting including green spaces, rain gardens, integrated cycle paths, life-time homes and shared-ownership products. A number of existing residents will be returning in 2018 when the first two phases of the project are due for completion.

Working in partnership with South Cambridgeshire District Council on a former Council site in Longstanton, Iceni is again working on behalf of Hundred Houses to deliver 12 affordable rent homes and 5 shared-ownership homes, all due to complete in March 2017.

For our partner Colne Housing, Iceni’s project managers have been involved with several high profile schemes. The derelict Bernard’s Uniform site in Harwich has been an eyesore waiting to be regenerated since it closed in 2007. The go-ahead was given in 2015 by Harwich Town Council and Tendring District Council to support Colne Housing’s plan to build 27 new homes; work is progressing well and the new homes should be ready for Tendring’s residents early next year.

At Crossman House, Braintree, the £3million project will provide 21 much needed new flats. Build contracts were signed earlier this year after Iceni Homes led on the land assembly deal including site disposal by Essex County Council and land acquisition from Network Rail.

In Chelmsford, we continue to work with Bellway Homes on a phased project at the iconic Marconi works, to build 127 new homes for Colne Housing. This site originally housed the first wireless factory in the world and was the headquarters to one of the founding fathers of radio, Guglielmo, Marconi.

Colne’s residents will be able to enjoy the landscaped public spaces, cycleways, and gardens. Spacious, contemporary apartments for shared-ownership are ideal for those who live and work in the area or commute further afield as the station is a 2 minute walk away.

In Boxford, an archetypal Suffolk village, Iceni Homes have just completed Suffolk Housing’s first mixed tenure project including 5 outright sale homes. Sympathetically designed to complement the existing village architecture, the project team has worked closely with the parish council and local authority to ensure that the homes are available for local people. Recently completed, this incredibly popular scheme includes 6 houses that have been sold on a shared-ownership basis to families with a local connection, 14 houses, bungalows and flats have been let at affordable rents, and 5 homes that have been sold privately.

At Main Road, Martlesham, Iceni continue to work with Bloor Homes on a £5.4million contract to deliver 59 new homes for Suffolk Housing. Phases 1- 3 completed this year and Phases 4 and 5 follow in 2017. The first phase of 10 shared ownership homes were large family houses, benefiting from views over the heathland, are now occupied by families with local connections.

And finally… as we at Iceni enjoy our new surroundings in Coppice House, we reflect on not only a nice shiny new office, but also on what was an exciting commercial project for us – managing the build of Suffolk Housing’s new office, and further developing our track record of non-residential project management.